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Arrow Round Table: "Unthinkable"

It's over! The unthinkable has definitely happened. With Arrow Season 2 Episode 23 comes our final round table discussion of the spring.

Below, writers Kate Brooks, Hank Otero, Carla Day, Nick McHatton and Carissa Pavlica ponder how well Arrow wrapped up and hope you join them in the discussion.

Oliver and Felicity working together to bring down Slade: Was it entirely planned or do you think Oliver ad-libbed a bit?

Kate: This is the part of the finale that I cannot stop thinking about... I am torn but in the end, I think it's a little bit of both - Felicity sort of knew but Oliver definitely intensified the situation. Her reaction was too pure and too shocked to know he was going to drop the love bomb. I think a part of her believed him until he handed her the vile. Really, all he had to say was that he look the wrong woman, he didn't need to add the I love you, but did, and it made that scene much more meaningful.

Either way, their scenes were great as the chemistry between Emily and Stephen just keeps getting better and better. I am glad that they didn't get together, as Emily Bett stated in an interview recently, they are not ready to be together - they don't know one another outside of the Arrow cave. Hopefully that is explored next season.

Hank: He definitely made some of it up as he went along. I'll admit the ILY took me by surprise and for a second there the Olicity fans must have been jumping for joy. I wondered why the heck Ollie took Felicity to the Queen mansion, of course the way everything played out made sense. I have no doubt he cares for Felicity, though she's probably much more taken with him at this point. Like Kate says perhaps the two will get even closer next season. Their relationship is still much more brother/sister to me, but what do I know? Haha

Carla: It didn't look like Felicity was in on it before they got to the mansion. She appeared confused and taken in by his declaration. The big clues were the "Do you understand?" and that he slipped her the cure at the mansion. If the plan was worked out entirely, she would have already had the cure (Why risk Slade seeing it?) and she would have understood what was going on.

Nick: No, I think Oliver figured it all out, and he he needed Felicity's reaction to really sell it so he had to make it seem real and play on her emotions; that being said, Oliver is the type of person that sticks to his word. While the ruse was a set up, I don't think the words are. I think he truly does love her, and the look on his face when he tells Felicity is telling for me.

Carissa: I'm torn, as well. I don't want to think Oliver would thrust Felicity into such a terrifying position without her consent. If that's the case, it's almost as if he expected the 'I love you' to pad the enormity of the request. Thankfully, it all worked out in the end. Since there are definitely feelings between them, I'll cut him a break on this one. It was a plan that worked out well.

Kate: I literally said when it was revealed she got in the car with Malcolm, "Thea, you are better than that!" I think it's a terrible idea but at the end of the day, Malcolm is all she has other than Oliver. It'll be interesting to see what Malcolm turns her into

Hank: Not so much, but I get it especially after Roy lied to her too. At least her psycho-dad's lies are out in the open. She knows what she's getting into with Malcolm and I don't think he'll twist her mind to make Thea evil. He's definitely going to manipulate her against Ollie & Roy though.

Carla: Good idea for Thea? No. Good idea for the series? Absolutely. I cannot wait to see those two together. With John Barrowman as a series regular in Arrow season 3, we should get lots of fun, crazy father-daughter action. He gets the second chance to be a father and she gets to become her own person. I don't think she'll be easily manipulated by him. She did shoot him after all.

Nick: I love the idea. Thea's in a dark place and she's heading out with a dark man. Thea's been looking for space, and she's sick of everyone lying to her. At least Malcolm offers her some answers and the space she's been craving, but I'm super excited to see if he's going to warp her at all. Or if she's going to be a positive influence on him.

Carissa: It's brilliant. She's only wanted the truth, pretty or ugly. Malcolm staying by her side during the battle meant a lot to someone who felt abandoned and lied to by everyone in her life. Part of her also figures that he raised Tommy and he was a good person, so all hope isn't lost. This finally makes Thea, as a character, pertinent.

Sara left, gave Laurel her jacket and Lance crumbled. What are your thoughts on the Laurel family drama?

Kate: I am so happy that Sara left and didn't die because it means she can come back. I feel as if the Black Canary torch has been passed onto Laurel through her jacket. As far as Quentin collapsing, this is the biggest cliffhanger for me in the finale. I was just starting to REALLY love Lance and I hope that he recovers. I am definitely into the Lance family drama.

Hank: The writers fooled me again! Just when you think you've figured out the direction the story's taking, the writers take the more unpredictable route. I'm really glad they didn't kill Sara off (not yet anyway). Our heroes just might need her help next season right? I don't think Laurel is anywhere near ready to become the Canary but this might be the start of her training with Oliver. Quentin Lance's internal injuries were a total shock. I watch Arrow with my siblings and I had just mentioned how much I like Lance this season, then boom... he falls over dying. I'm hoping Laurel reached help in time.

Carla: I was happy to see Sara and Laurel part as sisters without any grudges. The jacket was a nice offering, but I don't think that means Laurel will become the next Canary. Lance's words on the matter were how I feel about it. She'll find a place to help Team Arrow though. Lance has to make it out alive. He's the connection to the police department and he still doesn't know that Oliver's the Arrow. He's got to know that before he can die. (How does he NOT know?!)

Nick: I was not expecting Lance to crumble at the knees. It hit me so much harder than either of the sisters. I'm glad Sara and Laurel end on a happy note, and the baton might be passed in a realistic way; however, I'm way more interested in whether or not Lance is going to survive. I've come to love his character so much.

Carissa: Paul Blackthorne must be so pleased to know how taken we all are with his performance as Quentin Lance. Not one of us wants to see him harmed! We've lost too many parental units already, surely he's around to stay. As for Laurel and Sara, I think Laurel is on her way to assuming Canary status. Sara isn't cut out for heroics in the same fashion as Oliver or even Laurel. Laurel pushed her on the occasions they met. That was telling.

In the flashbacks, Oliver is heading off with Amanda Waller. What do you expect from that?

Kate: I expect to find out that Oliver hasn't spent 5 years on a hellish island like he has always claimed. I think Amanda is going to train him into the killer that he was and teach him how to become a vigilante. I think we are going to really learn where The Arrow really began.

Hank: That was probably the strangest twist of the finale and one that nobody can say they saw coming. Like Kate mentioned Oliver always claimed to have spent his time on Lian Yu, never has Hong Kong come up. Still the island is located in the North China Sea, so he'll be back there before long I'm sure. It always felt like Oliver and Amanda Waller knew each other well, now we'll find out all the details. I absolutely love the fact we will be spending some time in China next season, that will bring an entirely new vibe to the show. While I didn't expect it, the Hong Kong stuff will be our island flashbacks in Season 3. That's one way to switch things up right?

Carla: No idea, but I'm super-excited by the possibilities. I'm very glad that he's off the island. I saw some people comment that they were upset by the twist because he was supposed to have been on the island the whole time. I see this lie as no different from when he said he was alone on the island. It does make his decision to be "rescued" from the island after 5 years more of a mystery. Why did he return to Starling City when he did?

Nick: I'm really happy that Oliver is (maybe) off the island. I've felt with Slade the island ran its course for now. I'm super ready to continue to watch Oliver's journey and learn more about Waller and her intentions and backstory.

Carissa: More Waller (hopefully) means more Suicide Squad and more Deadshot, which I never imagined I'd want. That alone is reason to celebrate. A change of scenery away from the island is also welcome. Oliver's journey to assume a role as hero may be complete but his journey back home in flashbacks has just begun.

Kate: I was thoroughly impressed with the stunt work, fights, and action sequences. The fight on the bridge between Slade's army and The League, Arrow, Red Arrow, and Canary was the best fight scene of the entire series. Let's not forget the flooded freighter fight too! I was really into it. My little brother had actually walked in and watched this scene and said, "what movie is this from?" He was surprised to find out it was a TV show.

Other than the action scenes, I really loved the emotional stuff between Oliver and Felicity as I believe he was being truthful. I think my most pure reaction of the finale was shock. I couldn't believe that all of Team Arrow made it out alive and that it ended on a somewhat happy note as compared to Tommy's death last year. Overall, I loved it and each episode this season the acting and chemistry between all of the characters got better and better. I cannot wait to see what unfolds next season.

Hank: I thought the Season 2 finale blew year one out of the water and that was an amazing finale, so that's saying something. While the first season stumbled here and there, I found the writers had a much clearer vision and endgame for this season. It certainly went off without a hitch. Everyone from the writers, to the cast and stunt coordinators to the FX people truly brought their A-game. This is no ordinary TV show, it's a movie each and every week. I have extremely high expectations for Season 3 and while it's going to be tough to top this season, I trust everyone involved with the show.

I'd like to give a quick shout out to my fellow Arrow round table fanatics and to everyone that's followed us and commented throughout the season. See you guys right back here in a few months, it's going to fly by trust me. Have a great summer!

Carla: Loved it. Oliver love declaration to Felicity in the mansion felt off to me right away.I figured out the twist before it was revealed, but that didn't take away from the hour. I was glad. The moment on the beach signaled that they do care about each other, but neither of them are ready.

The fights were better than any other ever on television and even most movies. The Oliver/Slade fights on the freighter and on the rooftop were brilliantly choreographed and edited as was the tunnel fights. The finale should definitely win all the stunt awards for the year.

Overall, the season finale didn't disappoint. The Slade chapter is over for now and Oliver didn't lose himself. Despite all that was lost, Oliver held his head high, "You helped me become a hero, Slade. Thank you."

Nick: I felt this finale was much stronger than last season's incredibly strong finale. Oliver finally found a way to overcome Slade without resorting to his previous tactics, and his conversation with Slade in his cell was so powerful. I loved the faux-Olicity fun that was had. More important, the emphasis on the core trio and how well that group dynamic is.

Carissa: This round table was really difficult because there wasn't a lot to really analyze. The finale really wrapped things up and set up the next chapter. It's exactly what a finale should do -- not tease and taunt, but satisfy and bring closure to the current season. It did that with incredible drama, action and emotional plays. I couldn't ask for more (maybe two hours!).

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Claire Boom Tothe Moon•May 22, 2014 13:29

Q#1 I don’t think Felicity was in on it, but it was because of her that he formulated the plan. I think the way in which it played out was very important for several reasons. First, it is established that both Felicity and Oliver are horrible liars, and it is also established that they trust each other implicitly. So when he takes her tot he mansion he needs her reactions to be real and they are. The thing is, he could have ended it at “he took the wrong woman”, but he takes it further, by saying “love you” and I think that was the unplanned part of it. I just think he was overcome by basically sending Felicity into the lions den. That face was not the face of a lair. What I think is great about it, is that this is Felicity who he feels he always has to protect physically, yet he is using her as the trojan horse. SHE is the one who takes down DeathStroke so that Oliver in turn can defeat Slade Wilson. I like that he put her on equal footing with himself and showed that much trust in her abilities. It was true teamwork. What is even better is that it opened up really nice future explorations for them. I hope we see this further expanded on next season as, both the relationship part as well as Felicity’s ever growing role on Team Arrow and her real need for training. Q#2 Thea choosing Malcolm is never a good idea, but it will open the door to an interesting story line next year. Perhaps her struggle with good over evil — her brother vs her father, as well as her love for Roy. I’m glad we’re seeing Thea thrown into the mix. Q#3 The only thing I took away from that dock scene was Lance falling with blood coming from his mouth. The man needs to survive and come back! I have not had enough Felicity/Quentin scenes! That and I really hope Sara returns with Nyssa in tow, because I have also not had enough of Nyssa/Felicity scenes either. Q#4 I don’t even know what to expect from the Hong Kong story! I can’t wait to see how it all plays out though. I do hope though that Amanda Waller is not put on the list of women Oliver has slept with though — that is getting to be a bit much. Part of me DOUBTS that’s the case, but I can certainly hope, because really, the Birds of Prey episode was a bit much. Q#5 The Season 2 finale was fantastic, it truly was. It took everything about Arrow that works and put it all front and center — Team Arrow (O/F/D), action, Felicity/Oliver and then wrapping it up with some delicious extras like the suicide squad and the League of Assassins. They did a really good job of balancing all of it and then tying it all up and leading up to next season. It was a nice balance of emotion (Oliver and Felicity! Oh my!, as well as Diggle and Lyla, and Roy and Thea — so much!) with enough action that deserves some recognition! Beautiful work all the way around.

How did I miss this RT in the news? Let''s break it down.1, Olicity drama?It was amazing, U think it's the biggest game changer to date and they pull an even bigger infront of our noses. How much I loved it so much I'm hating it. Things will get complicated for Ollie with this son story going surely happening, they deserved a beautiful summer. But no! I think Felicity wasn't in on it, but she played it out beautiful, and come on Oliver isn't that great of an actor to pull this off this way. I'm really hoping we will finally get some back story on her, and that stripper Mom(Melind Clark cough, Heather Locklin cough).2.Thea & Malcolm!?Looking at it overall it was the smartest move for her. She doesn't want to feel weak anymore and Malcom won't treat her like a baby. I'm glad he become series regular and Thea will probably become really kickass over the summer. 3.Lance Family?I like Sara and I like she found her own way, made her own decisions. She couldn't handle the pressure Oliver was putting on her to be a Hero, so this was the right decision. But she will be back till midseason latest. Meanwhile Laurel has in her what she needs to stay strong beside Oliver and go strong against him. Even if she takes over Sara's Canary deuties, I hope the road will be rocky with a some major cry and devilish love interest teacher ;-). Lance is well and alive, doubt he will do detective work anymore but I like the Idea of him being the new Mayor.4. Hong Kong 5 years ago!?I love it, I mean it would be hard to keep him on the island and the story be interesting. And Amanda being by his side is a brilliant move. And he learns to pilot!!!! If we still won't get our Green Lantern mention I will be pissed. 5. Season 2 overall?A golden brick road leaving us in the middle of Emerald city. If you get me right. The only thing I would change is the Lance story after midseason. It was solid but it could've been handled a bit better, Laurel's fall didn't feel strong enough. I loved the reconcilation speeches but the way to them could've been a bit more emotional. It felt rushed. But we shouldn't focus on that, the rest of the season was tremendous and worked out really really well.

Lucy•May 20, 2014 14:38

Q1) I believe Felicity was in on it - for the most part. She gave Oliver the idea with the whole "let him out think you" comment. Felicity didn't react as she usually does when Oliver tries to keep her safe; that's why I think she was in on it. In the past, she's always pulled out the "if you're not leaving, I'm not leaving" or "it's my life, my choice," if she weren't in on it, she'd have argued. I think it was a complete set up, but I think he threw her with the "I love you." I'm not sure that he actually meant to say it either. If you watch the last three episodes as one long episode (they are the same day after all), you see that in Act I, Felicity begs him not to give up and grabs his hand as he walks away -- it's an "I love you" from her to him without the words. In Act II, Felicity snaps when he wants to give up and delivers one of the best monologues of the series "You honor the dead by fighting, and you're not done fighting . . . You are not alone . . . . and I believe in you." Again, it's an "I love you" from her to him. He's felt alone for 6 years, but he's starting to believe he's not. But to beat Slade, he has to have help. He can't be alone . . . and when he tells her "I love you" in Act III, he means it. He does love her; now, he may not love her like she loves him, but he loves her. And that's what threw her. She has always known when he was lying (remember the laptop with bullet holes). She knew he wasn't lying, but she's not sure what means. And if he hadn't meant it, he wouldn't have just smiled. He would have explained like he did in 2.06 - ". . . I can't be with someone I really care about . ." He meant it, but he may not mean that he loves her romantically - at least not yet. Q2) Bad idea for Thea -- great for story for us. I can't wait! Q3) I think the writers want us to believe that Sara passed the Black Canary torch to Laurel, but I'm not sure that's what happened. I think the writers will play with the idea in Season 3, and see how well it goes with the story. I don't imagine that Laurel will be a full fledged member of Team Arrow, hanging out in the lair and training. In fact, I image that they won't tell her the location of the new lair. I expect there will be some tension with her waiting to be involved more than they want her to be. Q4) At some point this season, Oliver told Diggle that he wasn't on the island the entire time, so I wasn't surprised to see him leave it. With the Chinese language tattoo, I suspected he'd spent time in China. I also knew that he had a past with Waller. All that said, I didn't really expect to see him wake up in Hong Kong and meet Waller in the season finale. Q5) I loved the finale. It really did tie up what I thought was an uneven season. I loved the show until 2.14, which I hated so much that I almost quit watching. (I've never loved a show so much and hated a show so much in a single season.) I think the story telling really faltered from 2.14 to 2.17, but starting with 2.18 the show when back to being one I could really love. I hope season 3 is even better!

Kath@ Lucy•May 22, 2014 02:27

" Felicity didn't react as she usually does when Oliver tries to keep her safe; that's why I think she was in on it. In the past, she's always pulled out the "if you're not leaving, I'm not leaving" or "it's my life, my choice," if she weren't in on it, she'd have argued." She did argue. He told her he needed her to stay there, safe, that he would pick her up after it was all over, and started to walk away. She went after him and told him she wanted to be with him and the others, unsafe. I think that was the point when he decided to go for the plan to fake-out Slade. If she knew beforehand, she would have had the syringe already. If he knew on the way over he was going to set her up and didn't tell her that he was going to risk her life, then that's no hero.

Why is the Round Table group so surprised that Oliver spent time off the island? If he never left the island: How did he learn Chinese and Russian? How did he become a captain in the Bratva? How were he and Amanda know each other so well, and how is Amanda so high on his lists of people to pay back? All of these questions have been thrown out there for the past two years, so it's absolutely no surprise that he spends time off the island. The real question is, during the times he was off-island, why didn't he contact home? That most likely will be explained in Season 3. Sara will be back, and back early. I guess no one on the Round Table noticed in the official CW Season 3 description released this week that Caity Lotz and her character were mentioned by name along with the other regulars? That's a clear sign that she will be a regular next year. They spaced out last year's regular cast announcements, and looks like they will do the same this year. It's well-deserved, as Lotz had a standout Season 2. Here is the official CW release on Season 3: After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. He returned home to Starling City, bent on righting the wrongs of his family and fighting injustice. To do this, he creates the persona of the Arrow and allies himself with former military man John Diggle (David Ramsey), computer-science expert Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), street brawler Roy Harper (Colton Haynes) and international assassin Sara Lance (Caity Lotz), while keeping his secret from those closest to him including his sister Thea (Willa Holland), who has allied herself with his most deadly enemy. Rivalries and allegiances will shift as Oliver faces his most difficult challenge yet. Based on characters appearing in comic books and graphic novels published by DC Entertainment, ARROW is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti ("Green Lantern," "Brothers & Sisters"), Marc Guggenheim ("Eli Stone," "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters"), Andrew Kreisberg ("Warehouse 13," "The Vampire Diaries") and Sarah Schechter.

I appreciate all of your comments about what the writers, etc., said about the upcoming season, but we discuss the episode based on what was included in the hour and give our thoughts on that, not information released by the network. I'm sure a lot more will come to light during Comic Con and the season will be well fleshed out before it airs. This is merely a discussion of the finale. :-)

BBussey@ Carissa Pavlica•May 20, 2014 05:01

Fair enough. But this is a serial drama, not a collection of stand-alone episodes like a sitcom where the stage is reset to status-quo at the end of the hour. The off-island issue has been ingrained in the series since the pilot, so it's not a stretch after watching 46 episodes to conclude that a sizable portion of Oliver's ordeal was spent off-island. And Moira's murder, coupled with the given that Manu Bennett would not be a regular next year whether Slade survived the finale or not, pretty-much left Sara safe. Not to mention that if Sara had died this season, it would have left no plausible forward path for Laurel to become Black Canary because she's nowhere near ready to assume the role. Oliver, Digg, Felicity, Sara and even Helena have had years of training to hone their respective skills. So, you don't need to see producers' interviews and network blurbs to deduce some of the forward trajectory. Plus, the second and third questions above are in regard to future speculation about the Lances and Hong Kong respectively, which is beyond the scope of the finale.

S.•May 19, 2014 18:44

I could have sworn in season 1, when Lance strapped Oliver up to a lie detector, that he asked Oliver if he was on the island the entire 5 years and Oliver said "no" and never elaborated. I always expected the show to go to somewhere in China and Russia, otherwise why would he have such ties to their gangs (unless there really is a tattoo parlor on the Island that I missed and knowing just one member is enough to get you inducted in)? I really hope they go into Felicity's past in season 3. They gave a couple hints this year that suggest it will come up and going into her past would help her and Ollie get to know each other better.

Sara•May 19, 2014 18:31

Fantastic final!!! Action, suspence, drama and emotion. Wow, I loved it and so appreciated the core team together, but my favorite of all, Oliver and Felicity. Oliver and Felicity really add so much emotion and chemistry to the show, they just get better and better. So excited to see their relationship continue to deepen and see them eventually become the end game couple!!! So excited for Diggle to be a Dad. Hoping lance is okay. Thea, oh Thea what will become of you. Enjoyed Slade and the whole teams battle I the tunnel. Very, very excited for season three!!

Trish•May 19, 2014 18:09

I've got to say that the Arrow season finale was one of the best shows they've done to date. I mean, there was not a single moment that I can honestly say I hated. I've struggled with the back end of Season 2 and was just in awe of how they turned things around in the finale and returned the show's focus on the team arrow dynamics. I'm a huge fan of Felicity's and I sat back and watched Emily Bett Rickard's shine in such a way that I didn't think possible. She was the show's MVP. I've got to admit to being a tiny bit jealous that Diggle is going to be a father, because I just adore him so much and will never believe anyone is worthy of him, but I'm happy to see him finally getting something outside of the team dynamic. Did I forget to mention how much I love the frienemies angle going on with Diggle & Deadshot? I'm also a really big fan of Quentin Lance's and hope he pulls through this, I can't imagine season 3 without him. Thea going off with Malcolm and all of it's implications has intrigued me, I've struggled with her character a lot lately and this new element may have drawn me back into her story. But I have to tell you that my favorite scenes were between Oliver & Felicity and how well they functioned in the overall tone of the episode. Let's for a moment forget the romantic connotations for a moment and take a look at how he viewed her as his partner, his equal, one of his most prominent allies in his decision to embrace the side of heroism even in the face of adversity. I think I may have cheered the loudest in these scenes. I love an empowered woman and the shift there was incredible. I know that working as a non-fighter on the team will place her in peril from time to time, but I love the way she often serves in a consigliere or strategist capacity. The Oliver & Felicity relationship potential was beautifully played, I believe his feelings were true to his words, but I agree that they're not ready for that yet. We as an audience are not ready for that yet. There is more story to tell and above all else, their relationship is far deeper than his & any other female's on the show. I can be patient, because he will never jump into anything with Felicity so recklessly, she's too vital a presence in his life. So I'm a happy Arrow fan. As long as the show continues to respect the sanctity of the Team Arrow dynamic and keep that as one of its core aspects, I'll continue loving every minute of it. Each member of that Team had to earn their place and serve a function or add a specific or unique skill set, this should remain a prerequisite. Great roundtable!

aunni@ Trish•May 19, 2014 19:28

Slade played the game with oliver like chess, always steps ahead bt he did a vital mistake by underestimate or not recognize the queen aka felicity. Oliver intentionally or by luck protected the most important piece of the game n used the queen to take the evil king. ppl says she is underdeveloped which is not true she just lacking backstory.

Kate@ aunni•May 19, 2014 21:11

Totally agree with you, aunni. And Felicity as a character has shown so much development this season. She's become so much more confident in her decision-making (and some of those involve literally life-and-death scenarios) and bolder in her strategies (blowing up a QC division?), too. Both Diggle and Oliver look to her for guidance on many occasions. I would argue that season 2 also showed us another hero journey aside from Oliver's -- and that's Felicity's. Oliver called her his partner in "Blast Radius," and I was so happy to see that play out and solidify in the finale.

Yep. This. And backstory is NOT character. It might help understand "why" a character is a certain way but it does not "build" character. Character is built in the present, in the present day story, their actions, their deeds, their words.... Felicity Smoak is an awesome character. We knows lots about who she is without understand "where she's from."

Lucy@ Smoak&Arrow•May 20, 2014 14:44

Totally agree. Felicity is a fantastic character and has actually had a big arc from 1.03. We just don't know much back story. She was truly the white queen in the finale. Awesome in every way. And I also agree that she and Oliver are no where near ready to be a couple. Keep up the slow burn!

Q1: I don't think anybody can stop thinking about those Oliver/Felicity scenes in the finale and what they meant. LOL. It's going to be THE burning question this summer, leading into the 3rd season. I think, as in all shows that use this particular type of setup, there is an unrealized truth behind the words for the people involved. Oliver's ILY might have been part of the ruse, but whether he realized it or not, I think there's clearly unspoken feelings between them. They're both fighting them, trying to deny them, or just outright confused by them at this point. LOL. So I totally agree with Nick: While the ruse was a set up, I don't think the words are. I think he truly does love her, and the look on his face when he tells Felicity is telling for me. I think the beach scene was the think that cinched it for me. Felicity's thing about the idea of them being together being "unthinkable" and that soft smile Oliver gave her.... Yeah. Definitely something there. With Amell and Rickards' outstanding chemistry together, a romance for them is definitely a place I want the show to go. Like Kate, I really want to see them explore this in Season 3. I don't need the show to rush to get there, but they do need to let the audience know -- much like they have with Felicity in season 2 -- that Oliver has feelings of his own for Felicity, even if he's not ready to voice them or act on them. Let season 3 spend the year building up more of that sexual tension and awareness. But if Arrow wants fans to feel satisfied and content enough to wait and around see it play out (and not just view it as a jerk-you-around moment as some do) then they need to offer something up to keep that trust established. Q2: Oh, Thea. I felt bad for her. I did. It's got to be a heck of position to find yourself in but... no. Terrible decision by her. But like everybody else on the panel, I think it's going to be great story for her character and it's about time. I think she and Felicity definitely deserve "character" story of their own for season 3. Q3: I adore Quentin, so he better not die! Q4: I think it was pretty much stated upfront in Season 1 that Oliver hadn't spent the entire 5 years on the island. I remember being very thankful to know we were going to get a change in flashbacks at some point, and I'm glad Season 2 brought an end to it. It kind of reminds me of James Bond, in a weird way. Oliver dragged into a secret, shadowy government organization to do lord knows what and be on all sorts of adventures to sharpen his skills. I expect that we'll have Oliver/Amanda/Argus cross paths in the past with HIVE, Deadshot, and Andy Diggle to play out how Andy died. I think that'll dovetail in the present with Diggle's quest to learn more about HIVE and why they wanted his brother dead, and if there's a show writing god out there, it'll tie into Felicity's backstory as well. I really want her father to be a baddie. Q5: I thought the S2 finale was outstanding. When an hour basically flies by and you find yourself sort of breathless at every turn? You know it's good. I'm a big fan of action and stunts but, as has been mentioned here a few times, I believe, you need to have that emotional connection between characters and *for* characters, and for me, the finale really shined that light on Oliver/Felicity and Team Arrow (Oliver/Felicity/Diggle), and even managed to make me feel something for Thea and Roy (both individually and as a romantic pair). Then Quentin's fate, too. It dangled such delicious stuff with the League of Assassins, even Deadshot (who I'm really beginning to like), along with Quentin. It left me excited about season 3 instead of "Uh oh, how badly are they going to screw this up?" I think Arrow proved you don't have to drive your show into the ground with unnecessary angst and cliffhanger drama like so many other shows did this year to make your finale feel epic and exciting and keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more.

Kate•May 19, 2014 17:25

I had a random idea last week which seemed to jive with the fact they turned the Dark Archer story on its head or at least with our assumptions (RIP Tommy). That maybe we've been looking in the wrong direction for where Laurel's journey goes when we look at the Black Canary. Once Kate Dawson's neck was snapped, I sort of said, hey, why not a more grounded version of Manhunter? She could be completely there as part of Team Arrow next season, Diggle further trains her to fight (and actually has a sparring partner he feels comfortable pairing Felicity with) and she is left out on some of their one off episodes where she gets to watch what happens from Felicity's perspective and then working in the D.A.'s office becomes frustrating for her and some of the more frustrating cases are just not in Arrow's purview. So, maybe by the end of the season, Team Arrow starts hearing about another vigilante who isn't crossing lines but could get in trouble and that becomes a little mystery next season.

Lucy@ Kate•May 20, 2014 14:46

I've wondered that, too. I'd much rather see Laurel as Manhunter. I think that would be a much better fit.